The basic approach of Therapeutic Community (TC) is treatment of the whole person utilizing the community itself, identified as “community as method” as the principal means for promoting personal change. TC’s provide multidimensional alcohol and drug treatment involving therapy, education, values, and skills development with a common theme of all TC’s of self-help and the notion that the resident plays an integral, active role in their own therapy and in the therapy of other residents.
In practice community as a method will look like

• Daily life in the therapeutic community provides learning opportunities through various social roles individual residents assume as positive participants in the community.
• The experiences essential to recovery and personal growth unfold through social interactions.
• Residents provide feedback, and receive feedback from others, as part of a shared commitment and responsibility within the community.
• Members of the community strive to be positive role models of the change process, living and contributing to daily life in the therapeutic community.
• Job functions and procedures maintain the daily operations of the facility, off er learning opportunities for new skill development.
• Community meetings and decision-making involving residents and the staff team are a core tool in the running of the therapeutic community.

Residential Programs

No, the residential programs do not provide detox at any of the Karralika Program facilities. Individuals, couples, and families that come to our residential programs must be alcohol and drug free (other than approved prescribed medications).

Many clients will have had to take part in a detox program provided by another service or if assessed as suitable participate in Karralika’s home withdrawal program before they are admitted into one of our residential programs

Home withdrawal program

Yes, the Karralika home withdrawal program provides withdrawal support by a registered nurse in a client’s home to help prepare them to go into a rehabilitation service.

NSW Child and Youth

No, the NSW Child and Youth AOD program provides community withdrawal support when appropriate by a Registered Nurse.

Residential Programs

Yes, you need to be alcohol and illicit drug free to participate in our residential programs. A period of detoxification is required prior to entry. Residents are supported with their medical issues and prescribed medications by our Primary Health Nurse.

Reversed Driver Education Program

Participants of our drink driver education program (REVERSED) must not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when attending the session. Participants will be breathalysed before the course and will be excluded if they have a positive reading.

Yes, as of 1 July 2015, all our Programs and sites are smoke-free. Clients of the Karralika Therapeutic Community and the Nexus Men’s Program will have access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy and a range of supports to help.

Karralika has well established support and management of residents taking part in Opioid Maintenance Treatment. You can apply for admission to any of our programs if you are established on your maintenance program, live in the ACT, and need residential treatment for your alcohol or other drug dependence.

Yes, you can take part in one of our residential programs even if you normally live outside of the ACT.
A comprehensive assessment can be scheduled by calling our Assessment/Intake Officer who will also provide additional information regarding requirements for admission into our programs.

The Karralika Family Program allows parent/s taking part in the residential rehabilitation program to have their children (up to the age of 12 years) living with them. The Program offers individual support for parents to address their alcohol or other drug dependency whilst also focussing on treatment for the whole family to strengthen family relationships and positive family functioning

Absolutely. All Karralika Programs Inc. programs are voluntary, and individuals can self-refer for assessment. However, some adults will have to take part under court order.

REVersed is an alcohol and drug awareness course for adults who have been charged with a drink or drug driving offence in the ACT (even if you live interstate) and have been;

1. Charged with the same offence before, or
2. Had a mid to high range blood alcohol content level.

REVersed is a 6-hour course approved by Road Transport Authority in the ACT and you will need to complete this course to keep or regain your license.

REVersed is delivered face-to-face, but we can facilitate online attendance if requested.

Applications for REVersed are available online , contacting the Coordinator on 02 6185 1300 or emailing info@karralika.org.au.

Therapeutic Community

The Karuna Program is of 8 weeks duration and provides adults with the opportunity to experience the benefits of residential rehabilitation before deciding to continue for the remainder of the Adult or Family Therapeutic Community program. Clients can exit at 8 weeks and apply to transfer into our Nexus Halfway House.

The broader TC treatment program may extend through a series of additional phases for up to 12 months. Once residents have completed the full TC program there is opportunity to transfer into our Transition Program or elect to return to their own homes with support from our Outreach worker.

Transition

Transition Program offers a three-to-six-month residential program. It is the ‘linking’ phase between previous treatment in Karralika Therapeutic Community Adult or Family programs and getting back into the community. It is a time of preparation and consolidation of the knowledge and skills learnt and in a supportive environment that offers structure, case management and peer support individuals slowly reintegrate into community and independent living.

Nexus

Nexus Program offers a three-to-six-month residential halfway program for me. Entry to Nexus can be from the wider community and Nexus is the ‘linking’ phase between an individual’s previous treatment and returning into the community. Nexus offers individuals time out from their environment which may have become unmanageable and offers structure and support to consolidation knowledge and skills already gained.

Outreach

The Outreach Program has been developed to help clients exiting Karralika Programs Inc. Karuna, Karralika TC (Therapeutic Community), Family, Transition, and Nexus Programs. It is envisaged that the provision of Outreach services will support clients as they settle into the community from their residential treatment program.

The program scope enables multiple services, program entry points and treatment options. These include the following:

Case Management – 1: 1 session, case/support planning including monitoring and evaluation/referral to relevant agencies/organisations.

Counselling – The counselling approach used at Karralika is flexible to suit a range of clients in their AOD recovery. However, when necessary, referrals to specialist counselling (i.e., DFV counselling) will be arranged.

Phone Support – Accessible daily through the Deakin office between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm.

Individual Support – Either by phone, or personal visit at a location suitable to both the Outreach Worker and the client.

*Note: appointments in locations outside Karralika premises, requires Management approval.

First you need to contact Karralika Programs Inc. Assessment and Intake Case Manager on 02 6185 1300 who will complete a Client Enquiry quick assessment to determine suitability for a comprehensive assessment to access one of our programs and assess risk.

The Assessment and Intake Case Manager can provide information about our programs and if assessed as suitable will schedule a time for the comprehensive assessment. Our Intake Officer will ask a series of questions to understand more about you, your dependence history and which program would best suit you and your circumstances.

They will assess your eligibility for one of our programs and discuss the next steps. If assessed as not suitable for our programs you will be supported to and provided information about more appropriate services or programs that you can contact.

Why not take the first step and call us now on 02 6185 1300

Yes. Our programs and staff can support people with complex needs to address their alcohol and drug dependence. Residents with low literacy, Acquired Brain Injury and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder for example are supported with additional resources and tools to help them take part effectively in the program and achieve their treatment goals.

Supports might include being able to spend some time in a quiet place, using tailored print resources including group handouts and worksheets, having additional time to complete homework or individual tasks, accessing additional support from staff and senior peers, additional one to one staff time and instruction, and using voice recorders or voice recognition software for example.

Adults with low to moderate mental health conditions who are, or can be, stable on medication are able to take part in our programs. Karralika Programs Inc. works closely with Mental Health ACT and health professionals to ensure the continued health and safety of our clients while they are taking part in our programs.

Although our programs are supported by funding from Governments, all clients are expected to pay affordable fees for board and lodging within the residential rehabilitation programs (Karralika Therapeutic Community Adult Program, Karuna Short-stay Program and the Karralika Family Program or the community-based settings provided through the Nexus Program. Board and lodging at the TC means that all accommodation, meals, electricity, phone costs are covered by the program fees paid by residents.

Additional costs for personal or other special needs shopping needs to be covered by the residents themselves.

You can find out more about our fees when you contact the Intake Officer on 02 6185 1300

Yes absolutely. Information collected by the organisation is confidential and used for the purpose of supplying the services you need, Karralika Programs Inc. follows the Privacy Act in relation to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

We do provide de-identified data on program occupancy to our funders and to the National Minimum Data Set for broader service planning across the country, but client names are not included.

Our Confidentiality and Privacy Statement* provides further information.

Yes absolutely. Our clinical staff team are qualified Alcohol and Other Drug Workers, some have added qualifications and experience including psychology, social work, and allied health.

Karralika Programs employees a Registered Nurse and provides clients with access to other clinical and medical support whilst taking part in our programs.

Karralika Programs has a comprehensive education and training program ensuring that staff have appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver high quality services for each client.

Karralika Programs welcomes and values feedback. We are committed to supporting people to provide feedback, including complaints, in a way that is comfortable to them. Proper handling of complaints is important to our performance and the continuous improvement of our services.

Our Complaints and Feedback Statement * provides further information.

Residential, Pharmacotherapy, Non-Residential Withdrawal Services

• 18 years +
• Singles
• Families
• LBGTQI+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• CALD (Culturally and Linguistically diverse)
• Comorbidity clients
• Dual Diagnosis clients
• Interstate

NSW Child and Youth Services

• 10 year – 19 Years + Family
• LBGTQI+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• CALD (Culturally and Linguistically diverse)
• Comorbidity clients
• Dual Diagnosis clients

Karralika recognises the importance of supporting our residents in the process of rebuilding and strengthening relationships with friends and family. It is acknowledged that the involvement of a supportive family network is an integral part of successful long-term recovery.

Therapeutic Community

Regular visitation can be facilitated by request from residents or on scheduled community visitor’s day.

Mail can be sent to PO Box 2230 Tuggeranong ACT 2901

Nexus and Transition

Residents residing in the Nexus and Transition programs may have regular visits with family and friends where appropriate. Residents are required to complete weekly planners that includes when and where family and friends’ visits are planned. Residents cannot have visits with family and friends at the program houses unless this has been approved by the case managers.

The Early birds program offers support whilst clients who have been approved for admission for residential treatment and are waiting for beds to become available. The assessment and intake case manager will have weekly contact with the client to maintain engagement. Support is also provided to the client to prepare for their entry to program. Counselling is also available, and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural workers are available to provide cultural support and connection.

There are certain criminal offences that may make you ineligible to enter our residential treatment programs. During the assessment process you will be asked if you have a criminal history and if so, you will be required to provide this documentation as part of the assessment process. Decisions of suitability for program will be based on the nature and time of offence by the clinical intake assessment team.